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New Report Details the Cost of Health Care

A new report detailed exactly how much Americans spent on health care
in 2011, including a rare look at what some of the cost-drivers
continue to be.

The report was completed by the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) and
is based on claims data from about 25 percent of all Americans covered
by employer plans. Despite efforts by providers, payors and elected
officials over the previous years, the report showed a larger than
expected increase in spending in 2011.

According to the report, the increases in cost were primarily driven
by higher prices in four major areas of care: hospital stays, outpatient
care, procedures and prescriptions. The average amount of spending per
person was $4,547, including $735 in out-of-pocket spending by
consumers.

The report analyzed more than 6 billion claims by about 40 million
people provided by Aetna, Humana and UnitedHealthcare. You can read the
full report by clicking here.